She scampered off down the streets of Malabar, frantically seeking shelter. Her deal with Al Abarti had gone terribly wrong, and she needed sanctuary from his anger after she turned down his amorous advances.
She stood at the top of the Street of Women – she had a choice to make. Down one way was the brothel of which she'd heard so much – the place of last resort for poor and desperate women. The other way led to the Nunnery – of the Sisters of Perpetual Sorrow, for hunted and sick women, and she hesitated for a while, not sure which she wanted least.
The sounds of a bugle cut through the morning air and she knew that Al Abarti was closing in. She swallowed hard and flew down the street to the nunnery where she knew she would find shelter.
The Reverend Mother looked her up and down and nodded slowly. "We do give sanctuary to hard pressed females," she said in her gravely voice, "in return for certain works and contributions. You look young and strong, I'm sure you will be up to what we demand from you".
She called one of the sisters to escort Tibella to her cell, and gave her the habit of the Order to put on. The colours were grey and white, and suited the dolour of the general air of the place well.
The sister was excited. "You've arrived at a good time", she burbled, "tonight is the greatest night of the year, and if you're very lucky, you might be allowed to participate".
Tibella could get no more out of her, and was put straight to work scrubbing floors, so learned nothing until the Compline bell was rung, in the early evening. It was then that the sisters came for her.
They took her to the Infirmarium, and made her stand in a tub while they washed her all over with sweet smelling unguents, "so as to be pleasing to God" as one sister said piously, as she combed the long freshly washed locks of her hair. "I don't have to become a nun, do I?" Tibella asked anxiously and was shushed with much laughter, as they reassured her this was simply a preliminary ceremony to welcome her to the nunnery.
They dressed her in a diaphanous gown and hung gold round her neck and from her ears. They gave her a drink which she took one sniff of and threw it away while their backs were turned.
Finally with great excitement they led her through to a stone chamber, richly hung with tapestries and velvets, with huge stained glass windows filtering the light through in rich hues. The sunset was just beginning as they led her up to a large stone table in the middle of the room and left her there, going to join the rest of the sisters gathered round the walls.
As the light began to fade, the chanting started, with all the sisters holding a lighted candle. One reverend mother went round them all with a goblet in her hand, letting them all have a sip, wiping the cup afterward with a rag.
As the drink began to have an effect, the chanting grew louder and more ragged, with the sisters swaying in time, some clapping, some hanging onto their neighbours for support.
Tibella saw this must be some drug in the drink and she was glad she had thrown hers away. She saw the Reverend Mother looking at her, and began to act as if she were drugged too. The woman's face changed, she looked satisfied, and looked away.
The sisters were now engaged in tying Tibella to the altar with silken straps. She surreptitiously flexed against them and found them to be quite weak.